Part 4/8:
The critique escalates as Stewart engages with the responses of Trump’s supporters and administration officials, calling out the absurdity of treating a leader's intelligence as a measure of their capacity. JD Vance, for example, claims that Americans should feel reassured that they have a "smart president." This framing implies that being perceived as intelligent takes precedence over real leadership qualities such as listening to advisers, adhering to law, and effectively maintaining national safety. Instead of policy-making, the focus has shifted to reinforcing loyalty and punishing dissent—a hallmark of cult behavior.